PARADE'S What People Earn

Ever dream of running for mayor? Curious how much a tattoo artist makes? How about a hot air balloon pilot in New Mexico? The answers may surprise you -- and may inspire you to rethink your career. Here's what real people from across the country earn in industries far and wide. See how your paycheck matches up -- or maybe get some ideas for your dream job.

I make the mid forties as a high school teacher. So, I smiled when I found out that the tatoo artist made around the same as me. I don't believe the mayor's salary though. Who would run if that is the salary? Byron: Yes, I share a house with my parents because it is too expensive to live on what I make and send my two kids to care.

my husband makes $9.09 per hour - I am disabled, and he pays child support for 4 children ...he has 8 total ....we get assistance in the form of HEAP ...we have to maintain our own medical insurance, pay our mortgage, keep a car running, with insurance, taxes, etc .....I'd be really happy with an annual income of $25,000 ......it would be quite a boost !

THIS CAN NOT BE TRUE! MOST OF THESE PEOPLE COULD NOT EVEN EAT! IN WASHINGTON DC ALMOST ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE LIVING ON THE STREET, THESE NUMBERS SIMPLY ARE NOT A TRUE SCALE OF WHAT REAL PEOPLE MAKE!

just get a union govt job and goof off for 20 years and retire at 50, everything paid for incl medical and you can't get fired, but if you actually work from time to time, you'll p .. off your coworkers .

Stop speading your fake facts. I am a union state worker. We pay into SS., Medicare, and our pensions as well as our medical. We work very hard and we don't make half or what some radio personalities are saying. Do humanity a favor; quit listening to blow hards and Google the facts before you continue to spread lies of things you know nothing about.

My sister is a retired teacher with full medical through Kaiser and a very very nice pension, my brother is a cop 8 years younger than me and ready to retire with close to 90% of current pay...tell me again how we in the private sector are spreading fake facts. Their unions have cost all of us more than we can afford. In the meantime, I can't afford to retire despite my limited pension and 401K that I've contributed to from the day it became available. You my idiot government employee are the one with the FAKE Facts.